Walter edward dennis



Patented Feb. 7,' |899.

w. E jnznms. ELECTRIC AHC LAMP. (Applicltion led Jun. 22, 189B.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER EDVARD DENNIS, OE NEV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,848, dated February7, 1899-.

Application filed .Tanuary22, 1898. Serial No. 667,526. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

13e it known that I, WALTER EDWARD DEN- Nis, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and a resident of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented and made eertain new and useful Improvements inMeans for Operating Electrodes of Arc-Lamps; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the drawings herewith, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to means for producing light through the medium ofthe usual carbon electrodes actuated by magnets and through themediation of electric currents and diiiers from the usual method in themechanism for adjusting one carbon in its relation to the other to formand retain the electric arc and in the means for transmitting theelectric current from the parts which are stationary to the movablecarbon electrode; and to carry out the new features of my invention itconsists in certain combinations of elements fully set out in thespecification and claimed at the end thereof.

In order that persons skilled in the art of electricarc lighting, towhich my invention appertains, may understand, construct, and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe it, referring to the drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a central vertical section of my invention, showingthe operating armature and mechanism in its extreme downward position,so that the upper and lower carbons would be in contact and theelectrical current established, Fig. 2 is a central vertical section ofthe same in part, the gripping-rack and carrier being locked togetherand in an upward position, the earbons being separated, the arc formed,and light being given out. Fig. 3 is an enlarged central section of theupper end of the carbon-carrier on line 3 3 of Fig. 4t, showing thegravity contact rods or disks not sectioned. Fig. 1l is a partialcross-section of the upper part of the carboncarrier on line l A of Fig.8, showing the gravity contactdisks, which disks are not sectioned.

A is the usual framework or body.

B is the usualannular magnet-core.

C is the usual annular armature.

D is a tube secured by a threaded thimble or nut Dl to the bottom offrame A and passes upward through the core B and the armature O.

E is a metal carbon-carrier and sustains the upper carbon electrode IIina tube. At its lower end it is provided with a slot or channel,preferably containing teeth e at its circuinference.

F is a rack-bar provided vwith teeth f to agree with the teeth c oncarrier E along its whole length.

G is the solenoid-helix, which is located in a recess in frame A, asusual, and surrounds a metal tube h, within which the armature C worksup and down.

d is a tube attached to the upper part of the frame or body A by whichit may be hung up in use, the usual hook not being shown.

e2 are disks of conducting material located radially in slots in thecarrier E, so that the surface of the disks gravitate beyond thecircumference of the carrier E.

e is a conical weight which is intended to rest upon the inner surfaceof the disks when desired and add to their force of contact with theinner surface of the tube D to carry the electrical current from one tothe other.

f are teeth on rack F and extend its whole length.

f are slots in tube D, one at the upper end and one at the lower end.

f5 are ears which are attached to the rackbar F, and at the ear at thelower end is attached to the armature G in a radial slot by a pin f3,which passes through a slotted hole in said ear, so that the rack-bar Fhas the same throw on the armature.

f4 are inclines formed upon the back of said rack-bar F to take underthe inner` surface of the tube D to throw the rack-bar teeth into meshwith the teeth onthe carrier E when the armature O is moving upward andis intended to act in this manner as nearly instantaneously as possible.

g is a taper-slot on the rear of the ears f5, which takes onto the outersurface of tube D to throw the rack-teeth f on rack F out of mesh withthe teeth e on carrier E and permit the carrier E and its carbon H todrop upon the lower carbon electrode and thereby establish theelectrical current.

Operation: The parts of the apparatus beu IOO ing in position, asrepresented on the drawings, Fig. l, the carbons in contact and thehelix-wires being electrically joined to a source of energy and acurrent established' electrically, the core of the magnet B will beexcited and the armature C will be drawn into its magnetic point ofequilibrium or against the core B in exact accordance with the strengthof the electrical current, which is regulated in the usual manner by arheostat. As the core C rises, the tube D being stationary, the inclinefL on the rack-bar F takes under the shoulder of tube D and throws theteeth f on bar F into mesh with the teeth e on carrier E and raises thecarbon H away from its contact with the lower carbon and establishes theelectric arc and light of a strength regulated by the rheostat. As theare widens and the electric current weakens the armature tends to dropand carries the rackbar F with it. Immediately this happens thetaper-slots g take onto the tube D and release the carbon from itsconnection with the rack, so that at least one tooth will be slipped andthe carbon II brought that much nearer the lower carbon and a strongercurrent established, which causes the armature C to again rise, and bythe engagement of incline f'i with the tube D throws the rack-bar againinto engagement with carrier E and holds it until another lessening ofcurrent occurs, when the same operation is repeated. In other words, therelationship between the carbons is regulated automatically by themechanism of my invention. The little disks e2, resting as shown in thedrawings in the carrier E, by their weight roll outward from the outersurface of the carrier E and bear upon the tube D, on the inner surfacethereof, so that the electrical current is permanently establishedbetween the movable and stationary parts. It will be seen that thesemetallic disks c2 bear at all times against metallic surfaces and at notime against the carbon H, so that there is no breaking of current inthe apparatus except at the arc, and consequently n sparking and itsattendant loss of electrical force and the evils which heretofore havelessened the value of the arc-lamp. Also at each time of cleaning orrenewing or any other time the surfaces of the tube D and carrier-diskse can be easily wiped to insure a good electrical current. This wholearrangement of parts enables me to shorten the length of the arc-lampand to place arc-lamps in positions where they have heretofore beenexcluded for want of proper height to accommodate the parts.

My invention as set out particularly in this specification is shown asapplied to a magnet system having a hollow core and armature; but myinvention is not confined to such a system. It is adaptable to any formof inagneto system whether one or two or more magnets are used. The tubeD and carrier E, with the rack and gripping device, may be operated withtheir other appliances by any system of magnets which may operate therack back and forth.

Having now fully described my invention and the manner in which I haveembodied it, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

l. In an arc-lamp, the combination consisting of the framework A, thehelix G, the core B, the armature C, an inner fixed centralized tube asD passing through the armature and core, a continuous rack-bar, pivotedto the movable armature C; a carbon-carrier as E, within the tube D,provided with gravity contact-disks as c2 and arranged substantially asdescribed to carry a continuous electrical current from the fixed to themovable parts, the said rack and carrier being provided with means tolock together and unlock by the movements of the armature C, allconstructed, arranged and combined to operate sub stantially asdescribed whereby the carbon electrodes of an arc-lamp are controlled intheir relationship the one to the other by the variations in thestrength of the electrical current therethrough.

2. In a mechanism for operating the electrodes of an electrical arc-lampthe combination with the operating-magnets, helices, and armature, ofthe tube D inclosing the carrier E; the continuous rack-bar F, securedto the armature, or movable core, and arranged to move with the same,and to clutch the carrier E, and to release it by the movement of thearmature or core, controlled by the electric current in its passage fromone electrode to the other, all constructed to operate substantially asspecified.

VALTER ED'WARD DENNIS.

llfvitnesses: Y

J Aims M. Hicks, CHARLES W. Low.

IOO

